Court of Appeal to decide if teenage rapists' sentences were unduly lenient

The attorney general has asked the Court of Appeal to review the case of three teenagers who avoided jail over the rape of two girls.

Two 15-year-old boys were given youth rehabilitation orders (YRO) and put on a supervision and surveillance programme by a judge last week.

They raped the girls in separate attacks in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, in November 2024 and January 2025. Footage was also shared on social media.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it was "clearly the right outcome" as he confirmed the attorney general had decided to refer the case to the Court of Appeal under the unduly lenient sentence scheme.

A third boy, 14, was also given a YRO for encouraging one of the attackers - and for an indecent images offence - over the January attack.

His sentence will be reviewed too, although the referral does not automatically mean the sentences will be altered.

The Court of Appeal could leave them unchanged if it decides they were within a reasonable range of sentences available to the judge.

One of the victims told the BBC the sentences were "like a rock straight in my face" and politicians across the spectrum have raised serious concerns.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch called it a "disgrace", while Reform's Robert Jenrick said the judge had made a "very bad error".

In a statement today, Attorney General Richard Hermer KC called it a "horrific case" and said he wanted "to bring closure to the victims and their families".

"It is clear to me from their powerful personal statements, that these girls have displayed immense bravery in coming forward," he added.

The girl in the first incident, who was 15 at the time, attended sentencing to deliver a victim impact statement.

She also read her own poem, directed at her attackers, which included the line: "All I want to do is die, I no longer have fear for when that comes."

In a statement on her behalf, the other girl described nightmares and struggling to sleep. "I feel ashamed, insecure and uncomfortable in my own body," she said.

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Judge Nicholas Rowland praised their bravery in giving evidence, but said he wanted to "avoid criminalising these children unnecessarily".

He told the boys: "I have to remember that you are not small adults.

"I have to think how likely you are to do serious things again and I need to make sure you do not do serious things again in the future."

He also said "peer pressure" had played a large part in their actions.

The court was told one of the boys had ADHD and "long-standing anxiety", while the other also had an ADHD diagnosis and an IQ in the "bottom 1%".

The 14-year-old was described as having "mild cognitive impairment".

(c) Sky News 2026: Court of Appeal to decide if teenage rapists' sentences were unduly lenient